Gasoline pump nozzle guard



Feb. 27, 1951 M, cAvANAGH 2,543,401

GASOLINE PUMP NozzLE GUARD Filed oct. 1e, 194e zz l z5 lNvENToR v Marm zmzzag.

BY-gn.

ATTORN EY Patented F eb.. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,543,401 GASOLINE PUMP NozzLE GUARD Martin Cavanaugh, Oceanside, N. Y.

Application October 16, 194.6, Serial No. 703,639

(Cl. W1-566) 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to gasoline supply nozzles generally, and particularly to a guard assoelated with the frame, in which operates the control lever of the nozzle, for preventing damage to the nished surface of automobiles with which the nozzle may come in contact.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide in combination with the lever frame of a gasolinesupply nozzle a cushioning member at that frame portion, which during the usual handling of the nozzle in filling the gasoline tank, would come in contact with the lacquered portion of automobiles, and especially where the reception spout 'leading to the tank is located Within an aperture provided in the mud guard or fender.

Another object Vof this invention is to provide a detachable guard associated with the front portion of the lever frame of a gasoline nozzle, and wherein the guard is provided With attaching means to facilitate securing the guard tothe frame.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a guard or cushioning element of the type indicated wherein a relatively stiff reinforcing member s imbedded within cushioning material, such as 'rubberI or similar resilient matter, and wherein the reinforcing member is provided with means for attaching 'the guard to the front and bottom portions of the lever frame 'of a gasoline nozzle.

The foregoingand numerous other objects and important advantages of the present invention will become more fully understood from the ensuing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a `gasoline nozzle, to the lever frame of which is secured a cushioning member or guard, in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective section taken approximately 'on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar cross section of a modified form of vthe device;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View vof a guard of the construction indicated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is another structural embodiment of 'the guard member;

Fig. 6 represents still another inodid forrn of the guard member;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken on line l--l of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 illustrates a nozzle, equipped with a guard, in a position assumed during the operation of lling the gasoline tank of an automobile.

Referring now specifically to the figures, nu-

mer'al l il indicates a typical gasoline control noz'- zie assembly as used in dispensing gasolinev into automobile tanks. Gasoline dispensing nozzles are usually provided with a control `lever I-I by means of which an automatically closing valve I2 is opened to release gasoline. Lever l|` is hinged at l 3 at the front portion i4 of lever frame I5.

As evidenced from Fig. 8, the front and the vforward bottom portions of lever frame I5- are rlikely to come into damaging contact Awith fender t6", and especially with the lower edge l1 of aperture 'I8 provided with a closure i9, and in which aperture an inlet 20 to the automobile tank is usually located in most modern cars. In order to prevent such direct contact between the metal of lever `frame I5 and the nish'ed fender portion, there is associated with the front and forward bottom .parts of the frame a guard member 2|, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the form of a channelshaped cushion having a relatively thick--bodiedV Web and in which latter is imbedded a relatively stiff, 'strip-shaped reinforcing member 22, which extends over the entire length and inner Width of the cushion, and from which reinforcing member extend spaced pairs of attaching clips 23 which are disposed opposite each other, extend beyond the relatively narrow flanges of the channel-shaped cushion and are bent rabout and secured to frame l5. The guard member comprises a channel structure so shaped that it forms an obtuse angular body having a short, upwardly directed front portion and a substantially horizontal, somewhat longer bottom portion, as clearly seen in Figs. l, 4 and 8. Three pairs of such clips are illustrated, however their number maybe -changed as required. The first pair Aengages the vfrontal portion of the frame and is secured above hinge connection I3 of lever Il. The second or middle pair of clips is arranged just beneath the depressed portion of the lever, and the third pair is mounted just be low the elevated portion of the lever, which latter is intended to be gripped by the lingers ofthe hand.

Due to the fact that the reinforcing member 22 extends over the entire length and the entire inner width of the resilient cushion, andthe fact that attaching clips v23 or their equivalent form Aintegral parts Vof tn'e reinforcing membe1-,-

once the guard is attached to the frame by means of clips 23 or their equivalent, the reinforcing member 22 assumes its nal position and shape and will stay in that shape and position as long as clips 23 hold the guard member in place.

Inasmuch as reinforcing member 22 is imbedded in the body of guard member 2 I, the final shape imparted to the reinforcing member in its attachment by way of clips 23 will induce a corresponding final shape of the cushioning part of the guard member. Not unless clips 23 are detached from the frame will the shape of the complete guard member change.

In the modified form of the device, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, guard 2I is similar in construction to that illustrated in Figs. '1 and 2, with the exception that reinforcing member 22' is in the shape of a channel which is imbedded within the relatively thick web portion of the channelshaped cushioning material. The channelformed reinforcement is adapted for the reception of the lower half of the frontal and forward bottom portion of frame I5, which latter is preferably drilled and tapped at 24 for attaching screws 25. Suitable apertures 26 provided in the reinforcing member and the cushioning material facilitate the passage of the screws in the frame, thus holding the guard in place. The fastening of the guard to the frame by means of screws eliminates the use of clips, especially below lever II, and provides greater permancncy in use and obviates possible slippage of the guard in respect to the frame or the lever.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. there is disclosed a cushioning element 21 in which is imbedded a resilient, channel-shaped reinforcing member 28, the flanges 29 of which are adapted to be normally inclined towards one another, as indicated in broken lines, and which fianges are provided with inwardly bent upper edges 23. These edges are intended for snapengagement with the upper corners of frame I5, thereby again eliminating possible interference with lever II.

A construction resembling somewhat the combined arrangements indicated in Figs. 2 and 5 is disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein again a cushioning element 30 is employed, in which is imbedded a reinforcing member 3| and from the body of which member extend resilient clips 32, terminating at their upper ends into bent-over portions 33 which are adapted to tensionally engage the upper edges of frame I5.

In the illustrations of Figs. 1, 4 and 8 it will be observed that the reinforcement embedded in the web of the resilient portion of the guard does not serve merely fol the stiifening of the guard structure, but also to retain the latters desired shape when the guard is attached to the front and the forward bottom portion of lever frame I5.

From the foregoing description of the different iodiiications illustrated it is clearly evident that the guard proposed in the present invention is capable of assuming the most varied structural embodiments, all of which are intended to provide abrasion-preventing means for gasoline nozzles in ordel` to obviate unnecessary damage to the finished portions of automobiles with which metal parts of a nozzle would normally come into contact. While, therefore, only a few such embodiments are submitted, it is quite obvious that changes and improvements may be incorporated in the construction of nozzle guards to facilitate their adaptation to gasoline nozzles of diiferent types and constructions. Accordingly the herein presented structures of the guard are by no means intended in a restrictive sense to this invention, for which the following is claimed as new.

I claim:

1. In a resilient guard for removable association with the front and forward bottom p0rtion of a gasoline supply nozzle lever frame, an angularly bent channel structure composed of a channel-shaped resilient member having a relatively thick web porti-on and relatively narrow flanges, a strip-shaped reinforcement embedded in the web portion of said member and extending over the entire length and the interior width thereof, a plurality of spaced, oppositely disposed clamping clips integral with said reinforcement and projecting beyond said flanges and serving for attaching the guard to the lever frame and for shaping the guard thereabout.

2. A resilient, bodily reinforced cushioning guard for the front portion of a gasoline supply nozzle frame, comprising an obtuse-angular, substantially channel-shaped body having a relatively wide and thick web portion and relatively narrow flanges of lesser thickness, a strip-shaped reinforcing member imbedded in the web portion and extending along the entire length of the guard, a plurality of oppositely disposed, spaced pairs of guard attaching means integral with and extending from said reinforcing member and projecting beyond said anges and being adapted to be bent about and fastened to the nozzle frame, whereby said reinforcing member, and thus the guard body, are caused to assume the shape of the nozzle frame.

3. In a guard for the forward end of a gasoline supply nozzle lever frame or the like, a substantially channel-shaped, reinforced, resilient, obtuse-angular body, having a relatively wide and thick web portion and relatively narrow anges of lesser thickness, a strip-like reinforcing member imbedded in and extending over the entire length of the web portion, a plurality of spaced, oppositely disposed pairs of bendable clips integral with said reinforcing member and projecting above said narrow flanges and being adapted to be bent toward each other and to forcibly engage the lever frame and thereby draw said reinforcing member and the guard body against and cause it to assume the shape of the lever frame.

MARTIN CAVANAGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA I :LN TS 

